About the Book
With a strong emphasis on problem solving, this book focuses on preparation for intermediate algebra. The authors introduce a five-step process for solving problems and use this throughout to solve real-world applications. Skill maintenance exercises reinforce skills from earlier chapters, while synthesis exercises encourage students to synthesize material from several sections and develop their critical thinking skills. New to this edition are writing-to-learn exercises which ask students to think through mathematical situations, synthesize concepts and verbalize ideas. There are also technology connection boxes which help with the visualization of concepts and foster intuitive and discovery learning.
Table of Contents:
Introduction to algebra and algebraic expressions - introduction to algebra, the commutative, associative, and distributive laws, fractional notation, positive and negative real numbers, addition of real numbers, subtraction of real numbers, multiplication and division of real numbers, exponential notation and order of operations; equations, inequalities and problem solving - solving equations, using the principles together, formulas, applications with percent, problem solving, solving inequalities, problem solving using inequalities; introduction to graphing - ordered pairs and graphs, graphing linear equations, more on graphing linear equations, graphs and problem solving; polynomials - exponents and their properties, polynomials, addition and subtraction of polynomials, multiplication of polynomials, special products, polynomials in several variables, division of poloynomials, negative exponents and scientific notation; polynomials and factoring - introduction to factoring, factoring trinomials of the type x2+bx+c, factoring trinomials of the type ax2+bx+c, a 1, factoring trinomial squares and differences of squares, factoring - a general strategy, solving quadratic equations by factoring, problem solving; rational expressions and equations - rational expressions, multiplication and division, addition and subtraction, least common multiples and denominators, addition and subtraction with unlike denominators, complex rational expressions, solving rational equations, problem solving - rational equations and proportions, formulas; graphs and slope - slope, slope-intercept form, point-slope form, linear equations in two variables, direct and inverse variation; systems of equations and problem solving - systems of equations and graphing, systems of equations and substitution, systems of equations and elimination, more problem solving with systems, systems of linear inequalities; radical expressions and equations - introduction to square roots and radical expressions, multiplying and simplifying radical expressions, quotients involving square roots, more operations with radicals, radical equations, right triangles and problem solving, higher roots and rational exponents; solving quadratic equations - the principle of square roots, solving quadratic equations - completing the square, the quadratic formula and problem solving complex numbers as solutions of quadratic equations, graphs of quadratic equations, functions. Appendices: sets; factoring sums or differences of cubes.
